National Assembly Organization, Powers, and Internal Rules
National Assembly Organization, Powers, and Internal Rules
This domain tests the Assembly's internal architecture and its constitutional powers: the Speaker and Deputy Speakers, committees, negotiation groups, oversight, appointment consent, and member immunity.
Core rules
- The Speaker and two Deputy Speakers are elected for two-year terms; the Speaker does not belong to a party during that term.
- Standing committees correspond to executive ministries; special committees are created for specific bills or investigations. The Steering Committee manages the Assembly's business.
- Powers include legislation, budget deliberation, state administration inspection and investigation, impeachment, consent to appointments (e.g., Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Constitutional Court justices), and consent to treaties and war declarations.
- Members enjoy immunity from arrest or detention during session without Assembly consent, except for flagrant offenses (Art. 44), and absolute immunity for floor remarks (Art. 45).
- Internal discipline is governed by the National Assembly Act and the National Assembly Rules.
Worked example
A member is caught committing a flagrant offense during a session and is arrested by police. No Assembly consent is required. The exception in Art. 44 covers flagrant offenses. If the same member were arrested for a non-flagrant offense during session, the Assembly's consent would be required; the Speaker would put the request to the House.
Traps
Immunity from arrest is not a blanket exemption from criminal liability. Floor-speech immunity does not cover statements made outside the chamber or criminal conduct. Do not confuse appointment consent with impeachment: consent is a parliamentary resolution, while impeachment follows Art. 65 thresholds.